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I love books! My love of them started with Dick and Jane and I've never looked back. I love all kinds of books but on my blog I review Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. I also have a family, two sons and a great husband! I have one rescue dog, Jasper who hates text messages and thunder and fireworks and loves snow. I have a BA in English Lit from the University of Florida and spend time writing when I get the chance. I am not accepting review requests. Be kind to yourself and others.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Character Interview- West from Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes and Giveaway!!!

Viral Nation by Shaunta GrimesAvailable NowPublisher: Berkley TradePaperback 320 pagesReceived finished copy from publisher for reviewTwo chapter sample available from Goodreads-Preview of Viral Nationto Buy Links-Amazon/ Kindle/ Barnes and Noble/ Book Depository/Indiebound/ KoboAdd to Goodreads-Synopsis- After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever. I have read Viral Nation and will be reviewing it later in the week and it really blew me away! It was amazing and different and didn't end on a cliffhanger and had such a great story line and oh the characters!!! Well, below is an interview with West Donovan, older brother of Clover Donovan. Ms. Grimes had a few spoilers in her answers (she was giving you guys too much information!) so I had to shorten the answers on some of the questions. Sorry, but I want you to know as little as I did when you read it!! So, here we go! Here is West Donovan (definitely swoon worthy!)Hi West! Thank you so much for being here today. I know it's risky, being here but I didn't give any advance warning that you'd be here so The Company shouldn't know about your visit.It's okay. I'm safe. We checked it out.West, you're a farmer in Reno, not a job you'd choose. What do you really want to do?I would have loved to have been an engineer. To build things, you know? But, it's too late for me to go to the Academy. I've always wanted to work for the Company, like my dad does, but that's off the table now. Right now, all I really want is to figure out a way to keep all these kids safe.Clover is a handful, but you seem very comfortable with her. What is one piece of advice you'd give someone that has to help Clover adapt to a new situation.Clover is my sister. I've been taking care of her most of my life, so of course I'm comfortable with her. The one piece of advice I'd give someone to help Clover adapt to a new situation is to not push her. Let her go at it in her own way, at her own pace. Once she figures out what's going on and how she fits in, she'll be fine. Just be patient with her. I hope Jude takes that advice.What do you think about to keep your mind occupied while you pick cantaloupes all day long?When I was still on the farm, I spent a lot of time thinking about Bridget, and how I could get myself in a better position to be with her someday. I counted the days until I could make a change. Now I think about Bridget and Clover and Jude, and I hope that they're safe. The Bazaar where you get your rations and some extras, how did you learn to work it? Did your father show you or did you have to learn for yourself? Can you explain a little more how the extras work?My father taught me, as soon as I was old enough, so that he could stop going himself. Every week I earn extra tickets and I get extra tickets for Clover as well. I trade them in for tokens that I can gamble at machines or table games. Sometimes I win something useful, or even exciting. Other times I come home with nothing but our bare bones rations. Every state has their own way of dealing with limited supplies. This is Nevada's. Do you feel like the crime prevention system is fair? Do you think it works because it's right or because it just scares people?My father has been an executioner for three years and worked in the justice system most of my life. I grew up with a strong belief in the system. Circumstances change though. They make you see things differently.Do you want your father to come back in your life or would you rather he stay in the Company barracks in his job as an executioner?I used to wish that our father was around more, that he didn't have to work so hard. By the time that he went to live in the barracks, I knew better. He stays away because he wants to. He never recovered from our mother's death. The Virus stole both of our parents from us.How did Clover get Mango, her service dog? It doesn't seem like something The Company would do for children with disabilities.Our father has worked in the justice system for a long time. There is a program where prisoners, those who aren't slated for execution, train service dogs. Some of them are trained to work with the guard, others to help people who have disabilities. It wasn't the Company who gave Mango to Clover, it was our dad. It was maybe the only truly good thing he ever did for either of us. Mango is Clover's best friend and her lifeline. Thank you West for your time and I can't wait to read the rest of your story! Stay safe!About Shaunta Grimes-

Shaunta Grimes has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada. Viral Nation is her debut traditionally-published novel. Where to Find Shaunta Grimes-Email/ Blog/ Twitter/ Facebook/ Newsletter

To celebrate the Apocalypse Blog Hop and Viral Nation's release I am giving away one copy of Viral Nation. The Book Depository must deliver to your country in order for you to win.
Please fill out the rafflecopter form below.a Rafflecopter giveaway

I entered your giveaway.In response to your question ofWhy do you want to read this novel?I want to read Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimesbecause i enjoy reading and discovering new authors.This book sounds interesting and i think i would enjoy reading this.Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!!!!

Well Wayne, thank you for answering! I think you'll really enjoy this one. I haven't read Shaunta Grimes before but I was really happy with this novel. I think I was a little tired of the genre, but when I read this one, it really was so different. I think it took two days to read it!

Awwww Clover has a service dog? LOVE IT! That alone makes me want to read this one, I love books that include close relationships between people and animals. I got a copy of this one for review a little bit ago, I'm so excited for your full review Heather, but I'm glad to know you liked it:) Yay for no cliffhanger! Fabulous interview:)

Thanks Jenny! Still channeling you!! Yes, I loved it and you'll love Mango and Clover together. I think you'll find it an easy read. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was really fast reading. My youngest son has been trying to take it out of my reading pile since it arrived! Guess he can read it now!!!

I've always been interested in end of the world stories, it's so fascinating to explore how mankind would continue after something devastating happened. Viral Nation sounds like my kind of story and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

I think you'll like this one and be happy with the way Clover is portrayed. The story is pretty much told through her point of view so it's interesting to have some insight into how her mind works and what she notices. I can't speak for the accuracy but it seemed realistic.

I just found out this book yesterday, and yeah I think this is pretty awesome, the cover is so nice and it is dystopian and it has time travel, so yeah this will be an amazing read. Thanks for the giveaway!

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